Rod coupler



April 24, 1928.

J. D. FITZGERALD ROD COUPLER' Filed April 22. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gera/kl,

(1mm Q mwwsssss."

April 24, 1928. 1,667,311

Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

' JOHN D. FITZGERALD, or sen nrneo, CALIFORNIA.

Ron COUPLER.

Application filed April 22, 1826. Serial Ito-4103,2526.

This invention relates to rod couplersgfor drill or pump rods and the likepbeing particularly adapted for use in connecting the rods or sections of drill stringsior boring oil or other wells.

In the use of well drilling and pumping apparatus, there is much financial loss in cident to the loss of rods or tools due to inefiicient connect-ions. Therefore, with a view to overcoming this diiiiculty a primary ob-q ject of the invention is to constructa rod. coupler adapted to withstand the strains and strong resistance involved in its use without danger of accidental separation oi the parts.

:That is to say, the invention contemplates a coupling wherein the inter-fitting parts accurately and closely engage to avoid looseness or play and provide a solid and rigid connection possessing great strength to withstand the great torque imposed? on drill stems in drilling operations, while at the same time providing adequate safeguards to prevent longitudinal separation except when desired. z, p

To that end the invention provides a coupler comprising interlockingly and detachably connectedtelescoping members of relatively stout proportions and ample length, and a removable key for locking them in their engaged position whereby the rod sections to be coupled may be quickly unl'i'ed or separated and when connected will be reliably held against separation.

In carrying out these objects the invention is susceptible of modification without depart ing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the claimed invention; there being shownin the drawings for illustrative purposesa preferred and practical form, in which:

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of the coupler with the parts partially separated.

Fig- 2 is a similar View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3 with the parts shown in connected operative position ready for use.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof taken at a plane at right angles to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. p i

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the locking key attached.

ahead 20 which heads are :Similar freference characters represent figures of the'drawingsb i i y a In the embodiment of the invention illus trated two rod sections 1 and 2 to be connected are shown equipped respectively one with an elongated head v5 corresponding parts throughout the several adapted for inter locking engagement to firmly and reliably connect the sections. The head Scarried by section l and made int-egral therewith'is in the form of a tubular receiving member 6 with a socket 7 at the inner end thereof. A key-way 9' extends transversely"throughthe head 5 and intersects the socket'or extended bore" 7 and is designed to receive akey 10 preferably constructed of a strip'of pliable metal folded intermediate its ends to provide a driving head 11 and having one arm 12 extended beyond the other andadapted to be;

bent laterally outward "to lie in'arecess 13 formed in the outer face of the head 5 and and the other with.

communicatingwith theke'y-way as is shown clearly in Fig. 4. This arrangement not only operates to holdthe' parts 'of' the: coupling in connected position but also protects or shields the locking element or keeper end element of the key and prevents its accidental release.

-Onythe inner face of the tubular portion g or cylinder 6 and extending inwardly from the outer end thereof are longitudinal grooves 14 and which have inwardly inclined side walls15 for a purpose to be described. These grooves 14 communicate at their inner ends with a "relatively enlarged cha1nber16 which in turn communicates with the socket 7,;and the bottom-27 of the'chamber provides locking shoulders for the wings or pr ojec tions 25526 as will presently appear.

The receiving end of the cylinder 6 has a reduced tubular extension 17 with a shoulder 18 formed at its inner end on the outer face of the cylinder and which is designed for interlocking engagement with a cup-like member 21 earriedby the head 20'and which is formed by an annular flange 22 spaced radially from the shank or stem 23 which projects longitudinally from the centerof said head 20. Said shank or stem is of a length corresponding substantially to the length of the cylinder 6 and the width of the'key-Way 9 so that when said piston is inserted in said cylinder it will extend across the key-Way 9 and into the socket 7. As shown the shank 23 is cut away at one side of its outer end to provide a locking face 24: for a distance substantially equal to the width of the keyway 9, and when this face alines with one side of the key-way 9 the key 10 can pass through the head 6 and lock the head 20 against turning.

Carried by the shank 23, intermediate the ends thereof, are a plurality oI" laterally extending coupling wings or projections 25 and 26 which correspond in length to, the length of the chamber 16 and conform in shape and size to the grooye 1a of the cylinder 6 to permit them to be entered. The, wings or projections 25 and Qband the groove 14: cooperate to guide the shank into the cylinder until the wings enter the chamber 16 whereupon a quarter turn of either the shank or cylinder will cause the wings 25 and 26 to abut and interlockingly engage with the shoulder 27 formed at. the bottom of the chamber 16 as is shown clearly in Fig. 2 and prevent withdrawal of the shank. This quarter turning to cause this interlocking engagement of; the wings and;

shoulders also positions the cut-away portion 2 1; of said. piston in alinement with the keyway 9.to provide for the insertion of the key 10 as is shown clearly in Fig and 4;.

From the above description it will be seen that in theuse of this coupler the tenonlike shank 23is inserted within the cylinder 6 by positioning the wings 25 and 26 in the grooves l t and; moving, said shank inwardly until said tongues clear the inner ends of the grooves and enter the chamber16. lVhen they have entered; this chaniber the tubular extension 17 of the socket membeiywill have entered the cup-shaped member 21 the head 20 as shown in Fig. 2. quarter turn between the heads causes the wings 25 and ,26 to engage behind the shoule ders 27 and lock the members of the coupling against longitudinal movement relatively to each other.

Vhen in i this position the lock is made secure by passing the key 10 into the key-way 9through the cut-away portion 24L of the piston and then bending the long end 12 thereof laterally outward A relative into the position shown in Fig. 4: where it is housedwithin the notch or recess 13.

When the. parts of the. coupling are in the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 they will be securely held against all possibility of separation until thekey is manually removed which will permit the head members to be rotated relative to each other and the portion 23 withdrawn from the cylinder 6.

lVhile this coupler is shown connecting two rod sections obviously it may bewused equally as well as a pipe coupler.

It will also be. understood; that the parts 1 and 2 maybe solid bar iron, as shown. or 1f the 1nvent1on is applied to ahollow drill stem, the said parts may be of p1poformation, that is, hollow without changing the. character or scope of the invention, and also. if desired, the coupling may be adapted to, -connect sections of cable.

\Vithout further description it is thought that the features and advantages of; the in vention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and: it will 01?; QO Q bev understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, may be resorted to, without depart ng from through and a recess formedat one end;

thereof, a locking face formed on the piston member and adapted to be rotated in alinement with the wall of the key-way, and a key adapted to be inserted in said key-way to engage said locking face and to hureits extremity turned into saidreccss.

In testimony whereof I hereuntoatiin my signature.

JOHN D. FITZGERALD. 

